La Tiendita Boricua Index Tiendita Boricua Index Credits 2 Bombas 3 Dulce de Lechoza 3 Aguinaldos 4...

Asómate al balcón para que veas esta parranda….Asómate al balcón para que veas quien te canta

Asómate al balcón pa’ que veas tus amigosAsómate al balcón pa; que veas que vacilón

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año NuevoEL BORICUA and Staff

A Cultural Publication for Puerto Ricans

DECEMBER 2008

La Tiendita Boricua

IndexCredits 2

Bombas 3

Dulce de Lechoza 3

Aguinaldos 4

Aguinaldos 5

José Feliciano – Feliz Navidad 6

Los Reyes 7

Rican Chef – Asopao de Pollo 8

Rican Chef – Pernil, Tembleque, Coquito 9

Música de Navidad to buy 10

Vicente Carattini - Música 10

Carmen Santos de CurranFood Editor &

Executive ChefWilfredo Santiago-Valiente

Contributing Editor

Dra. Carmen S. OrtegaPRIMOS Editor

Midge PellicierContributing Editor

María Yisel Mateo OrtizDevelopment Editor

José Rubén de CastroPhotography Editor

EL BORICUA is a monthly cultural publication, established in 1995, that is Puerto Rican owned and operated. We are NOT sponsored by any club or organization. Our goal is to present and promote our "treasure" which is our Cultural Identity - “the Puerto Rican experience.” EL BORICUA is presented in English and is dedicated to the descendants of Puerto Ricans wherever they may be.

DECEMBER 2008 EL BORICUA PAGE 2

- Editors and Contributors -

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©1995-2008All articles are the property of EL BORICUA or the property of its authors.

Javier Figueroa - Dallas , TX Publisher

Ivonne Figueroa - Dallas, TX Executive Editor & Gen. Mgr.

Dolores Flores – Dallas, TX

Language Editor

Support StaffAlisia Campos Thompson – EducationRamón Rodríguez Santiago – Tourism

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A la orden . . . .


Bombas

Dicen que a todas las suegraslas van a tirar al mar

¡Que mala suerte yo tengo -la mía sabe nadar!

Guayama es mi pueblo,y Puerto Rico mi país,

mi orgullo de ser boricua,es siempre mi coquí.

Si la mar fuera cerveza,y el río fuera ron,yo me la pasaría

nadando como todo un campeón.

Cuando supe la noticia,de que ya no me querías,hasta la perra de casa,

me miraba y se reía.

Ayer pasé por tu casame tirastes un limón

el zumo me cayó en los ojos,el agrio en el corazón

Si yo no hubiera nacido En la tierra en que nacíEstuviera arrepentido

De no haber nacido aquí.

Puerto Rican calderos make great Christmas

gifts!Order on our Website

Dulce de Lechoza (Papaya)

2 to 3 lbs. of green papayas 6 to 8 cups water 4 to 8 cups water 1 cinnamon stick Sugar or brown sugar, as needed (see below)

1. Peel the papaya(s). Slice them in half and remove all the seeds from the inside, along with any fibers attached to the seeds.2. Slice the papayas thinly, no more than one-quarter inch thick. The length may be anywhere from three inches to the length of the papaya.3. Boil the papaya slices in enough water to cover them, over medium heat, for around ten minutes.4. Remove from the heat, drain and set aside.5. Measure the papaya in cups.6. Boil together ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water for every cup of papaya slices over medium heat.7. When the sugar has dissolved in the water, add the papaya slices and the cinnamon stick.8. Simmer over low heat, stirring frequently.9. The dessert is ready when the mixture begins to shine and the papaya slices are almost transparent.10. Allow to cool, refrigerate overnight.

This makes a great gift. Fill a wide mouth glass jar and decorate with a holiday ribbon.

In Puerto Rico, Dulce de Lechoza isoften served with queso blanco, Puerto Rican white cheese (also known as Latin cheese) available at Latin grocers. Papaya and Lechoza are the same thing.


(New choruses)

Despiértate compadreLevántate y camina

Camina hacia la puertaQue aquí está la trullitaQue aquí está la trullitaQue viene a saludarte

Y a felicitarte en estas navidadesY a felicitarte en estas

navidades.

Coge el güiro y las maracasQue vamos pa otra casaQue la noche buena llegaQue navidad esta cerca

Me paso todo el añoEngordando mi lechónPara en las navidades

Formar un bacilónCon güiros - panderetasY un cuatro bien sonaoPara que mis amigos

No se vayan pa otro laoDe aquí no va a salirEl lechón me dijo así

Síganme este diciembrePara una parranda

Lucero de la esperanza, que lindo tu resplandor!

Que alumbras la noche santa de Jesús el Redentor

Campanas sonad, campanas. Hermanos, cantad, cantad,

Hosana Señor Hosana, Que linda es la Navidad!

Caminan las Nubes

Padre San Antonio mi devoto eres -Padre San Antonio mi devoto eres -

Llévame a la Gloria mañana a las nueve Llévame a la Gloria mañana a las nueve.

Mañana a las nueve que no hay quien lo dude Que por el espacio caminan las nubes.

Mañana a las nueve que no hay quien lo dude Que por el espacio caminan las nubes.

Domingo a la una mandé una promesa Domingo a la una mandé una promesa

Y la estoy pagando para no deberla Y la estoy pagando para no deberla.

Para no deberla que no hay quien lo dude Que por el espacio caminan las nubes

Para no deberla que no hay quien lo dude Que por el espacio caminan las nubes

Al salir de misa se apagó una vela Al salir de misa se apagó una velaEran los ojitos de la Magdalena. Eran los ojitos de la Magdalena.

De la Magdalena que no hay quien lo dude Que por el espacio caminan las nubes

De la Magdalena que no hay quien lo dude Que por el espacio caminan las nubes.

Al salir de misa se encendió una luz Al salir de misa se encendió una luz

Eran los ojitos del niño Jesús Eran los ojitos del niño Jesús

Del niño Jesús que no hay quien lo dude Que por el espacio caminan las nubes

Del niño Jesús que no hay quien lo dude Que por el espacio caminan las nubes

De la iglesia sale una mariposa De la iglesia sale una mariposa

Es María la virgen que es la más hermosa Es María la virgen que es la más hermosa

Que es la más hermosa que no hay quien lo dude Que por el espacio caminan las nubes

Que es la más hermosa que no hay quien lo dude Que por el espacio caminan las nubes

Cantares de NavidadTrío Vegabajeño

(coro)Navidad que vuelveTradición del añoUnos van alegresOtros van llorando

(repite)

Hay quien tiene todoTodo lo que quierey sus Navidades

siempre son alegresHay otros muy pobres

que no tienen nadason los que prefierenque nunca llegaran

Coro

Navidad que vuelvevuelve la parrandaen fiesta de Reyes

Todo el mundo canta.

Traigo un ramilleteTraigo un ramilletede un lindo rosalun año que viene

otro que se vaun año que viene

otro que se va

Dime si me quieresdime si me quieres

Que me adoras másun año que viene

otro que se vaun año que viene

otro que se va

Vengo del olivoVengo del olivoVoy pa'l olivar

un año que vieney otro que se vaun año que vieneotro que se va.....


Cantemos

CoroCantemos, cantemos, vamos a cantar.Cantemos, cantemos, vamos a cantar.

Con la estudiantinabonito cantar.

Si me dan pasteles, dénmelos calientes

Si me dan pasteles, dénmelos calientes

Que pasteles fríosempachan la gente.

-coro-

Si me dan arroz, no me den cuchara.Si me dan arroz, no me den cuchara.Que mamá me dijo que me lo llevaraQue mamá me dijo que me lo llevara.

La, la, la, la....

Esta casa tiene las puertas de aceroEsta casa tiene las puertas de aceroEl que vive en ella es un caballeroEl que vive en ella es un caballero.

Dios guarde a esta casa y guarde la familia

Dios guarde a esta casa y guarde la familia

Y los Santos Reyes también la bendiganY los Santos Reyes también la bendigan.

-coro-

El Gallo Pelón

De los hijos de papá yo soy el gallo pelón

soy el que toma más ron y aguardiente en navidad.

~ Se repite ~

Comadrita la rana, señor, señor.

¿Llegó su marido? Sí señor

¿Y qué le trajo? Un ropón

¿De qué color? Verde limón

¿Vamos a misa? No tengo camisa ¿Vamo'al misón? No tengo calzón

¿La botellita? No tiene tapita ¿El botellón?

No tiene tapón Quítale, quítale,

quítale, qui... quítale el tapón Quítale, quítale,

quítale, qui... quítale el tapón, pon, pon, pon,

quítale el tapón. pon, pon, pon,

quítale el tapón.

Mi madre me dijo a mí que no me case con tuerta

porque cuando están dormidas parece que están despiertas.

~ Se repite ~

Comadrita la rana, señor, señor... etc.

De los hijos de papá yo soy el gallo pelón

soy el que toma más ron y aguardiente en navidad.

~ Se repite ~

Noche de Paz

Noche de paz, noche de amor, Todo duerme en derredor.

Entre sus astros que esparcen su luz Bella anunciando al niñito Jesús

Brilla la estrella de paz Brilla la estrella de paz.

Noche de paz, noche de amor, Todo duerme en derredor Sólo velan en la oscuridad

Los pastores que en el campo están; Y la estrella de Belén Y la estrella de Belén.

Noche de paz, noche de amor, Todo duerme en derredor; sobre el santo niño Jesús

Una estrella esparce su luz, Brilla sobre el Rey Brilla sobre el Rey.

Noche de paz, noche de amor, Todo duerme en derredor

Fieles velando allí en Belén Los pastores, la madre también.

Y la estrella de paz Y la estrella de paz.


As a child in the 40’s in Vieques, el Día de Reyes was a simple but festive occasion. At around noon we took our small rickety fishing boat to Fajardo to visit with Mami’s side of the family. The boat was a sight for sore eyes, filled with our family and with flowers, gifts, food, guitar, tambor, güiros y maracas. I still remember Papi’s beautiful toothless grin as he loaded all of us – 10 children into the small boat. Once in Fajardo we had to walk about half a mile to Abuela’s house carrying everything that we brought on the boat. Mami always made her delicious Arroz con Coco and that is now part of my own family’s Christmas Dinner tradition. The gifts were simple as was the food, but we had the best time ever – and we never thought of ourselves as poor. Those are the sweet memories of my youth…. Ana Díaz, Orlando

EL BORICUA, the monthly cultural publication, makes a great holiday gift for family, friends, neighbors, teachers, and acquaintances.

Don’t miss giving the gift that lasts the entire year. Order your gift subscriptions today – on our homepage.

Modern, but still Puerto Rican, Feliz Navidad, a Christmas song by Boricua José Feliciano has made it to the top and is now considered one of America’s favorite Christmas Songs. In fact, it has become a top iTunes download and ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) has placed it among the 25 Greatest Holiday Songs of the Century.This Puerto Rican song is also considered an aguinaldo (Aguinaldo = a Puerto Rican Christmas song) and is sung at most parrandas by Puerto Ricans around the world. When you hear this song at the malls – remember who wrote it – José Feliciano, a Boricua.

José was born blind, to humble beginnings on September 10, 1945, in Lares, Puerto Rico. One of eleven boys, his love affair with music began at the age of three when he first accompanied his uncle on a tin cracker can. When he was five, his family immigrated to New York City. Young José learned to play the concertina at age six, using a handful of records as his teacher. Venturing beyond the accordion, he taught himself to play the guitar with undaunted determination and again, with nothing but records as his teacher, practicing for as many as 14 hours a day. Exposed to the rock-n-roll of the 50's, José was then inspired to sing. At 17, José quit school. His father was not working at the time and he needed to help his family. He played in coffee houses in Greenwich Village and for his salary -- as was customary during that time period in small clubs --they'd "pass the hat". The rest is history . . . .

Feliz Navidad

Feliz NavidadFeliz NavidadFeliz Navidad

próspero año y felicidad.

Feliz NavidadFeliz NavidadFeliz Navidad

próspero año y felicidad.

I wanna wish you a Merry ChristmasI wanna wish you a Merry ChristmasI wanna wish you a Merry Christmas

From the bottom of my heart.

Feliz NavidadA Puerto Rican Aguinaldo

Budín de Pan

4 cups milk 1 cup sugar 2 cinnamon sticks 1 lb. day-old bread, broken in pieces4 eggs½ tsp. salt1 tsp. vanilla extract½ tsp. cinnamon powder¼ cup raisins

In a medium saucepan boil milk, sugar, cinnamon sticks. Strain and set aside until it cools. Mix the milk with the bread, add eggs and the rest of the ingredients.

Pour in a caramelized mold and bake for 1 hour in a baño de María. Cool and turn over on a serving dish until the Budín drops. Let the caramel run over the dessert. Refrigerate and serve cold. Yum!!!


Octavas and Octavitas are ancient Catholic Church traditions going back centuries, brought to the island by our Spanish ancestors. The celebrations are in honor of Los Reyes Magos. Los Reyes

A Puerto Rican Tradition

Three Kings Day is celebrated on January 6th. That means that on La Víspera de Reyes, the evening of January 5th – Puerto Rican children will head outdoors with a pair of scissors and a shoe box to cut grass for the kings camels. That night they will place their “wish list” on top of the grass and place the box carefully under their bed.

Placement is very important, push it in too far and los Reyes might miss it. Leave it out too much and it might get accidentally shoved away. Los Reyes must find the box and read the list while their camellos eat the grass. In the morning of the 6th – children wake up to find their gifts under their beds.

January 6th is a Holiday and kids won’t have returned to school yet. They will spend the day much like Christmas Day is celebrated. Playing with toys while Mom cooks a great traditional holiday meal.

Los tres Santos Reyes, los tres y los tres, los tres Santos Reyes, los tres y los tres,

Los saludaremos con divina fe, los saludaremos con divina fe.

Los tres santos Reyes, yo los sé contar,Los tres santos Reyes, yo los sé contar,Gaspar y Melchor y el Rey Baltazar.Gaspar y Melchor y el Rey Baltazar.

Llegan con cautela, la Estrella los guíaLlegan con cautela, la Estrella los guía

se sientes sus pasos, en la noche fríase sientes sus pasos, en la noche fría

Señores, adiós . . . doy la despedidaal corazón santo, dulce de María

Señores, adiós . . . doy la despedidaal corazón santo, dulce de María

Los Reyes in Chicago

Papi and Mami celebrated Christmas the “Puerto Rican way.” They especially liked to celebrate Los Reyes – it was a magical time in my life.

On the Víspera de Reyes (the ‘eve’ of ) they would throw a big party. Papi had fixed up the garage so that it looked like a ballroom at a fancy hotel. He hung shinny wallpaper on the walls, hung velvet drapes over the garage doors, and laid large ceramic tiles on the cement floor. There were two Christmas trees in the garage with just white blinking lights and lots of blinking lights on the ceiling. Mi parents cooked for several days and roasted several perniles and even made pasteles for that night. Family and friends came over and they danced and sang aguinaldos.

Just before the party we followed Puerto Rican tradition and filled our shoe boxes with straw for the camels - our wish list on top.

In the morning gifts from Los Reyes were under our beds. We were the only kids in the block with Christmas gifts in January. If it was a school day Mami kept us home to celebrate. She also invited our neighborhood friends to play with our new gifts and served Christmas cookies and eggnog. Then she explained to them about our Puerto Rican Christmas. All our friends were jealous. Sandra Borrego

JANUARY 2008 EL BORICUA PAGE 8

The Rican Chef

A las dos de la mañana – nos comimos un sopón, y se nos pegó un dolor – allá por la madrugada.

Carmen Santos de CurranThe Rican Chef

elboricua.com/recipes.html

Asopao de PolloQuick Recipe

More than a soup, not quite a stew. Comforting, fragrant asopao de pollo, chicken and rice stew, is one of the best loved island criollo recipes.

6-lb. chicken, cut into small pieces ½ cup sofrito 2 tbsp. Adobo 1 tsbp. salt 1 tsp. black pepper 10 cups water1 cup green peppers, finely diced (cubanelle or bell peppers)2 medium onion, minced 3 tbsps. olive oil4 oz. smoked ham, diced 1 8-oz can tomato sauce 2 cups medium grain rice ½ cup peas Stuffed olives, capers, pimiento strips, peas and diced avocado for garnish

Boil the chicken in water with sofrito, Adobo, salt and pepper, for about 20 -minutes or so until tender. Use a fork to separate some of the larger pieces of meat and remove any bones.

While that is cooking stir fry the onions and peppers in oil for a few minutes, add the ham and cook until ham is a bit brown (just a few minutes). Add the tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Set aside.

Once the chicken is done add the onions and pepper mixture to the chicken. Add the rice and cook another 25 minutes or so. Once it is done add the peas, olives and capers. Garnish with pimientos and avocado.

How to make this recipe even faster? Make it ahead without the rice and freeze it (don’t add the rice until you will be serving because the rice will keep expanding). Heat, add the rice and serve. I like to cook the chicken in a crockpot or pressure cooker (30min). Then I freeze this until I need it. This will be like a thick soup or a stew.

You might have to double the recipe for a large party.

Our on website we have the recipe for Pasteles. Check it out. Find ‘Recipes’ see left hand index. José Feliciano ‘got it right’

the Puerto Rican holiday greeting is Feliz Navidad – Próspero Año y Felicidad.


The Rican Chef

Coquito

30 ounces coconut milk2 cups Bacardí rum14 ounces condensed milk (1 can)2 egg yolkspinch of saltsprinkle of cinnamon (optional)

Put all ingredients in the blender. Pour into a bottle and refrigerate. Make ahead for richer flavor. Serve in small glassware. Put it in a pretty bottle and give it as a gift.

TemblequeA traditional dessert

2 14-ounce cans coconut milk 2¼ cups sugar ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup cornstarch ground cinnamon for dusting

In a saucepan, combine the coconut milk with the sugar and salt. Bring to a full boil and cook for about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In a bowl, combine the cornstarch with ¾ cup of water and, with a whisk, mix well into a slurry.

Immediately pour the mixture into the saucepan and cook, continuously whisking until it thickens into a pudding, about 2 minutes.

Remove from the heat. Pour the mixture through a colander. Transfer the strained pudding into a nonstick 12"x6" deep dish, Smooth out the surface, and set aside to cool.

Refrigerate to completely set, about 2 hours.

PernilEasy recipe

10 lbs pork roast with skin4 tps. each coarse salt, coarsely ground black pepper, ground oregano.12 tps. garlic powder, or diced/mashed garlic½ cup vegetable oil

Remove skin from the meat and set aside. Cut deep gashes on the meat with a sharp knife – lots of them. Mix the seasoning together with the oil. Season the meat using all the seasoning. Season the underside of the skin only. Place the meat on a roasting pan. Cover it with the skin – skin side up and salt it on top. If you want ‘cueritos’ don’t cover the meat.

Roast at 350 degrees for 5-6 hours. Don’t turn the meat. Test for doneness using a fork. If the side of the meat is tender, then it is done – the juices should run clear.

This is even better if seasoned the night before.

Serve with boiled guineítos verdes.

To boil the guineítos verdes . . .

Buy them just before you need them. Cut off both tips and cut a slit down the middle – from one end to the other. Boil with skin for about 10 minutes in salted water. They should be soft in the center. Serve immediately. You can drizzle them with olive oil. Yum! (Boiled guineítos can be frozen for later use. Just reheat them in boiling water.)

Order green plantains and bananas from the local wholesale produce vendor. Tell them not to ‘gas’ them – that you need them very green. They should be really cheap and you will have to buy a whole case, which is not too much, really. You can split the case with someone else if you can’t use it all.


’24 Canciones que cautivan a los puertorriqueños en la Navidad.’ Buy it online.

The last item on the CD is the poem El Brindis del Bohemio, recited by Juan Llibre.

1. Cantares de Navidad, Trío Vegabajeño2. El Fuá, Alonso Vélez3. El Niño Jesús, Tony Croatto4. La Rosa Blanca, Felipe y Davilita5. Ponle por Nombre Jesús, Danny Rivera6. Dame la Mano Paloma, José Nogueras7. La Manía, José A. Salamán8. El Santo Nombre, El Gran Combo9. Villancico Yaucano, Danny Rivera10. Si No Me Dan de Beber Lloro, La tuna de Cayey11. Cada Navidad, Felipe Rodríguez12. Wepa Wepa Wepa, Alfonso Vélez13. Honra y Cultura, Ramito14. Parranda del Sopón, La Tuna de Cayey15. Así es mi Tierra, Los Hispanos16. Tú Eres la Causante, Nino Méndez17. Los Reyes No Llegaron, Felipe Rodríguez18. No quieren Parar, José Nogueras/Ismael Miranda19. Triste Navidad, Los Condes20. A Quíen No le Gusta Eso, Alfonso Vélez21. Las Campanas de La Catedral, Los Hispanos22. Un ser que te Persigue, Felipe y Davilita23. Son Borinqueño, La Tuna de Cayey24. Brindis del Bohemio, Juan Llibre (Poem recited)

The traditional Puerto Rican hat is the straw pava, which has become a symbol of Puerto Rico and particularly a symbol of a Navidad Puertorriqueña. Many Boricuas have at least one in a closet, saved for Navidad parrandas. Where is your pava?

20 Exitos Navideños Parranda Navideña Various Artists

Vicente Carattini (November 11, 1939-November 7, 2005), was a renowned singer and composer of Puerto Rican Navidad songs. Carattini was born and raised in Cidra. At the age of nine, Carattini learned how to play the cuatro by asking those in town who knew how to play the instrument to teach him.

Carattini became a member of "Tuna Taurina de Cayey" and participated in the recording of La Fabulosa Tuna Taurina. He was remained the group until 1969. He went on to Los Cantores de San Juan and they recorded their first Album de Navidad in 1971.The album included Si no me dan de beber, lloro; Asómate al balcón, and Porque era Católico.

The song "Si no me dan de beber, lloro" became one of the greatest hits in Puerto Rico and is considered a Puerto Rican Christmas classic. The song has been interpreted by such singers as Danny Rivera and Marco Antonio Muñiz. Another song which became a Puerto Rican Christmas classic was Dame la mano Paloma in 1979.

From then on Carattini and Los Cantores de San Juan performed to sold out functions during every Christmas season up to 2005. In 2005, Carattini made his last public appearance on Así es la Navidad, a Gilberto Santa Rosa Production. Carattini died of Leukemia.

La Tiendita Boricua Index Tiendita Boricua Index Credits 2 Bombas 3 Dulce de Lechoza 3 Aguinaldos 4...

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